Genetics & Molecular Biology
- The Ancient Chemical Secret That Allowed Maize To Defend Itself
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Many ancient plants weren't pretty, they didn't taste good, and they weren't big- but they could defend themselves. As food science progressed, numerous plants were genetically optimized for better flavor and yield, but some lost their abil ...
Article - News Staff - Jul 4 2014 - 4:00am
- Pluripotency Factor Gene NANOG Is Not Just For Embryonic Stem Cells
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New research has discovered that NANOG, an essential gene for embryonic stem cells, also regulates cell division in stratified epithelia, which form part of the epidermis of the skin or cover the oesophagus or the vagina in developed organisms. This facto ...
Article - News Staff - Jul 9 2014 - 4:01pm
- Genetically Modified Stem Cells Don't Increase Mutations
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The ability to switch out one gene for another in living stem cells puts us on the path to a science fiction future- fixing disease-causing genes in humans. But there are concerns about mutations. However, a new study has found that using gene-editing te ...
Article - News Staff - Jul 9 2014 - 6:30pm
- Epigenetics: Inherited 'Memory' Of Environment Is Overhyped
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In recent years, biology has been thrown around like a football. Activists in numerous areas invoke it- those against food science say scientists are tinkerers with no expertise while those against pesticides claim that the biology clearly shows what your ...
Article - News Staff - Jul 10 2014 - 10:01pm
- Ferryl Heme: A Biological Mystery Solved
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By identifying the molecular structure of a vital biological chemical, researchers may have solved a long-standing debate. The controversy is about a form of enzyme called a heme (or haem, as in haemoglobin) at the center of which is an iron atom (Fe) ca ...
Article - News Staff - Jul 11 2014 - 12:30am
- Drawing Stem Cells Out Of Their Niche
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Since stem cell research became common 50 years ago, scientists have been trying to unravel mechanisms that guide function and differentiation of blood stem cells, those cells that generate all blood cells including our immune system. Study of human blood ...
Article - News Staff - Jul 12 2014 - 12:44pm
- Researchers Catch Photosynthesis Oxygen Formation In Action
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One of your earliest science memories in school is learning that, during photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide sunshine and produce oxygen. Later we all learned that in lakes and oceans a similar process happens due to cyanobacteria. What has rem ...
Article - News Staff - Jul 11 2014 - 12:52pm
- Quantum Biology? Vibrations Improve Efficiency Of Photosynthesis
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Biophysics researchers recently used short pulses of light to peer into the mechanics of photosynthesis to try and determine the role of molecule vibrations in the energy conversion process that powers life on earth. Through photosynthesis, plants and ...
Article - News Staff - Jul 13 2014 - 11:30pm
- Mystery Food Allergy- Genetic Pathway Found
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Eosinophillic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the esophagus. The condition is triggered by allergic hypersensitivity to certain foods and an over-accumulation in the esophagus of white blood cells called eosinophils. EoE can cause ...
Article - News Staff - Jul 13 2014 - 10:00pm
- Why Worms Don't Get Drunk
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Neuroscientists have created mutant worms that don't get intoxicated by alcohol, by inserting a modified human alcohol target into the worms. An alcohol target is any neuronal molecule that binds alcohol, of which there are many. One important aspect ...
Article - News Staff - Jul 15 2014 - 6:00pm